The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-29

he was on his native heath. He was
not there TO mourn over q lost
cause, bat to renew old friend
ships and recall war "reminiscences.
For quarter Of century the slain In
battle had slept In their bloody |
ehroude, and God bless their memories |
and rest their souls In peace. When
the question Of secession first arose he |
was body and soul for the Union,
making the best speeches of which he !
was capable, the closing one being in
Memphis. In that speech / stated |
that I had Q beloved wife and four
darling children In my prairie |
home. / would rather see their eyes
closed In death than the Union dis
solved. Friends and comrades, In this
I lied. In less than ono hundred days
/ was at the head Of $50 Arkansas
men, on our way to Virginia to join
Lees army" He then pictured the
opening and closing scenes OF the war,
pathetically comparing the strong,
manly looking troops who began the
fight with the promiscuous mixture OF
young boys and gray haired veterans
who came out, thoroughly exhausted.
But now the qualities Of courage and
gallsntry were distinctively American.
Like brave men, the Southern forces
knew when they we're whipped, and
surrendered, illustrating the statement
by Q humorous reference to e'gerness
frst and last. when hostilities first
began our men were in greet distress
over the supposed probability that
they would not get to take hand.
Before they did cease, however, they
were ready to wish II had been
that way" The eloqusnt speaker then
pictured homes OF the conquered
Immediately following the prolonged
struggle. They had nothing but the
widows and children Of fallen CON-
rades, and the battle againet poverty
began. After these twenty years aud
more II could be said to be successful,
but no little Of the credit belonged to
those who wore the blue-the blue
and the gray now stand together with
one motto, zone God, one country and
one fag." We stand today, thank
God, united country. The colonel
then closed with confession, made to
produce an easy conscience. When he
was In the midst OF the most
furious battle aud beheld the stars
and stripes, he could not help feeling
that 1t was sacrilege to FIRE upon 1t.
He loved 1t then, he loves IL now.
The address, which continued only for
about twenty minutes, was one OF the
most impsssioned aud eloquent ever
heard, and elected frequent and hearty
applause. He concluded with
an appeal TO mothers to teach
their boys patriotism, as lessons
learned from the mothers lips were
most enduring.
The morning speeches were by the
Hon. John Allison, Of Nashville, and
the Rev. DR.. j. Buford, rector CT Gal.
vary Church, this city. who was chief
of staff for Gen. Wheeler. The former
speaker, after narrsting aud eloquently
celebrating the life and laboss OF
Southern people before and during
the war, painted O beautiful word
picture Of the soldiers home when
he returned from battle. Desolation
aud poverty staring him and his fam.
lily In the face, he btgan q different
kind OF struggle, armed with intee-
rity, industry and true manhood.
"Scenes OF thrift and prosperity, which
greet rs at every turn, are forcibls re-
minders that the two warfares did not
turn out similarly" futile, Fairchilds
and Halstead, he said, do n OF represent
ex-Federals and Unionists ;sstbey are
seen in the brave, honest and
patriotic men who united with the
surviv ,rs OF Fickett's division on the
field at Gettysburg" The idea OF this
reunion Of the blue and the gray
orieinated with some brave man
whose name has never been made
public. II II ever lie, however, and l
outlive him, / will contribute TO q
fund for monument over his grave.
Unfortunately for the public, In
Guiding large number OF those really
on the grounds, the writer Yves pre-.
vented from hearing enough OF DR..
Burford's remarks TO make anything
lik, an intelligent synopsis. From
the closely attentive attitudes OF those
nearest In front Of the stand, and the
profound interest noticeable on their
features, II was beyond doubt an adj
dress worthy the occasion aud the
gifted gentleman who delivered Il.
One feature Of II was beautifully
touching. He was referring In impss.
stoned and eloquent language TO the
tattered and torn battls flags, and, by
way OF emphasis, carefully drew the
one which hultered from the plat.
form 10 him and reverently kissed
1t. One remark which ca ne
TO the reporters ears, and
met with hearty applause, was an en-
phatic denial Of the Boosting claim
raised by some, that the result OF the
war forever settled the right 10 secede.
I" This risht - secede has not, said he,
"been settled by gunpowder, although
the power may be"
Master Aubrey Green, the eleven
year old con OF DR.. Sol Green, OF this
city, recited "the Blue and the Grey
with genuine fervor, aud was ap-
p'auded 10 the echo.
After the regular exercises had tor.
minated, DR.. Burford pronounced q
benediction, the band played Dixie
and the large gathering Of
whole souled patriotic gentlemen and
Lovely women promenaded about the
beautiful grounds until train time.
o sine TO the vex ,lious delays which
the railroad company possibly could
not prevent, the delegation from this
side OF Brighton left that place abo1l
IL p m. The twelfth annual reunion
win be held at the same place mex
summer.
Among the prominent Memphiani
whom the reporter caught a glimpse
OF In the crowd were the Hon. james
Phelap, Oapt. ]. Harvey Mathes, Capt
splllman, Capt A. b. Hill and family
Mr.. A. X. McNeese aud Col. John
Steele. Col. Ribert II. Crockett re.